Those waiting for the decision in the trial of a man allegedly involved in the death of three people in a car accident on Parkway West will have to wait a little longer. The Allegheny County judge who heard the case has delayed the verdict to allow additional evidence regarding the electronic data recorder found in the man’s car. In doing so, the judge indicated there is currently no precedent for introducing information from the recorder into evidence.

The electronic data recorder is designed to record the speed of the vehicle in the five seconds preceding the deployment of the airbags.

In its case, the prosecution said the device indicated the vehicle was going 106 mph just prior to the accident. The defense, on the other hand, asserted that the reading was recorded while the car was airborne and the tires were spinning at a high rate of speed. If this is the case the car could have actually only been travelling at 49 mph before the crash.

The man who is on trial was behind the wheel of the car when the car accident occurred. The vehicle reportedly hit several things including a barrier after he lost control. It was then launched through the air for a distance of 40 feet and rolled repeatedly down an embankment. The three who died in the accident were all passengers in the vehicle.

The case will be reopened for expert testimony on February 21, 2012. At this time expert testimony regarding the reading the tool produced as well as its reliability are expected from both the prosecution and the defense.

We will report the trial’s outcome when it is available.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Ruling delayed in fatal Parkway West wreck,” Bobby Kerlik, Feb. 9, 2012